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You can’t beat the convenience of Wi-Fi. No more cords to tie you down; but there are some important steps you must take to safely connect wirelessly to the Internet. Here’s what to get to secure your surfing.
Wireless security and the home PC
By Ed Tittel
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Alas, wireless network security is a bit of a trouble spot, even for home users. While it is easy to set up and use wireless networking technology, it’s not always as secure as we might like. In fact, older wireless technologies such as 802.11a and 802.11b are particularly prone to use defaults and encryption that are far too easy to get around. That’s why this checklist specifies the presence of certain features, and recommends moving away from default settings whenever possible.
Your service provider may be able to furnish a wireless access point as part of the equipment you lease from them monthly. Or you may elect to use your own equipment instead. The provider equipment comes with the convenience that they will maintain it for you and will probably offer reasonably secure gear as a result; on the other hand, monthly costs do add up (you can purchase a reasonable wireless access point with acceptable security features for $50 to $100; even at $3 a month, this pays itself off in 17 to 34 months).
You’ll want to use wireless security scans to make sure your environment is as safe as possible. McAfee offers a wireless security scanning tool called Wi-Fi Scan; numerous other such tools are available as well.
The following checklist includes features you should look for in a wireless access point (the device that makes your wired network or Internet link accessible to wireless devices), or in equipment that includes a wireless access point (also known as a WAP) that you may purchase yourself or obtain from your service provider. As with wired networks, you can find devices that combine a firewall, NAT and DHCP servers, and an Internet link along with WAP (and even wired LAN switch) capabilities, if you shop around.
Table 1: Wireless network checklist
|
Item
|
Explanation
|
What you should specify |
|
WPA encryption
|
Modern, reasonably strong encryption for wireless communications that has proven difficult to break |
pre-shared key
|
|
MAC address filtering
|
Lets you provide hardware addresses for which you can explicitly allow or deny WAP access |
MAC address for allowed PCs
|
|
SSID
|
Shared wireless network name that users must provide as part of gaining wireless network access |
Change value from default
|
For some users of older 802.11a or 802.11b gear, this may mean replacing current equipment with something newer. Though it will cost $30 to 80 per PC and from $50 to 100 for a new WAP, the new equipment (which should be 802.11g or some variant, or 802.11n) will be faster and more secure.
This checklist, and the ones in “Digital home security checklist” and “Securing your home network,” can help you cover the bases in relation to equipment, software and proper set-up, but they can’t cover all the bases that relate to “safe computing.” That means you’ll have to use common sense when working on the Internet, and provide sensitive information (especially account numbers, passwords, your social security number, etc.) only when you’re completely sure that the channel through which it is traveling is encrypted (look for a locked padlock in your Web browser) and when you trust the other parties involved. No amount of technology can make up for a lack of precautions and proper care when sharing important information with third parties.
